FLUSH MOUNTING FOR CARD SHUFFLER

• US 20090314188A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGS LLC (PlayAGS, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Shuffle Tech International, LLC
• Inventors: Jones, Stephen C., Toyama, Hirohide
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/50.110
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mounting a shuffling apparatus to a table is described. A bezel plate has an aperture permitting access to a top aperture in a shuffler apparatus. An aperture in the table top is covered by the bezel plate and a top portion of the shuffler apparatus is accessible through an aperture in the bezel plate. The bezel plate may be captivated to the table top using straps extending through the aperture in the table top and being affixed to the underside of the table top. The shuffler may be supported against the underside of the bezel plate by a bracket affixed to the underside of the table top. Alternatively, the bezel plate may be placed on the table top and the shuffler hung from an underside of the bezel plate by a bracket extending through the aperture in the table top.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a card shuffler to a table top, comprising:

a plate having an aperture in a surface thereof, the aperture having planar dimensions greater than planar dimensions of a card of a deck of cards and having an outer periphery sized and dimensioned to cover an aperture formed in the table top; and

,

a support mechanism configured to position an aperture in a top of the shuffler so that the aperture in the top of the shuffler is oriented to be accessible through the aperture in the plate when the apparatus is mounted to the table top.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support mechanism is sized and dimensioned to support the shuffler such that a top portion of the shuffler contacts an under surface of the plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, adapted to be captivated to the table top, wherein the table top has a one of a baize material or a wool felt covering.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a resilient material disposable between the plate and the table top.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the resilient material is a layer having inner peripheral dimensions greater than peripheral dimensions of the aperture in the plate and outer peripheral dimensions less than or equal to outer peripheral dimensions of the plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a resilient material disposable around the underside of the plate proximal to the aperture therein and dimensioned to separate the plate from shuffler.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate has holes in a surface thereof, suitable for insertion of fasteners, and spaced from the periphery of the plate such that the fasteners are disposable above the table top.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, having a tab affixed to an underside of the plate, the tab spaced a distance from a outer peripheral edge of the plate so that the tab is insertable into an aperture in the table top.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tab is bendable so as to oppose a lower surface of the table top.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tab has a hole in a surface thereof, the hole being positioned such that a fastener inserted therein engages the lower surface of the table top.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the linear peripheral dimensions of the aperture in the table top is smaller than a corresponding maximum linear peripheral dimension of the shuffler in a horizontal plane.

12. An apparatus for mounting a card shuffler to a table top, comprising:

a plate having an aperture in a surface thereof, the aperture having planar dimensions greater than planar dimensions of a card of a deck of cards; and

,

a plurality of holes in the plate, each hole spaced from a outer edge of the plate a distance sufficient for an inserted fastener to pass through an aperture in a table surface;

wherein the card shuffler has a plurality of structures having a same planar spatial pattern as the holes in the plate.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein fasteners inserted through the holes in the plate engage with the structures.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fasteners are bolts.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the structures are threaded with a thread suitable to receive an inserted bolt.

16. An apparatus for mounting a shuffler to a planar surface, comprising:

a plate having an aperture in a surface thereof, each planar dimension of the aperture being greater than a corresponding planar dimension of a card of a deck of cards; and

,

a bracket attachable to an underside of the plate, and projectable through an aperture in the planar surface;

wherein the bracket supports the shuffler so that an aperture in the top of the shuffler is accessible thought the aperture in the plate.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein dimensions of the outer periphery of the plate are be greater in each linear dimension than a corresponding linear dimension of the aperture in the planar surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one linear dimension of the shuffler in a plane parallel to the planar mounting surface is greater than a linear peripheral dimension of the aperture in the planar surface.

19. An apparatus for mounting a card shuffler to a table top, comprising:

a plate sized and dimensioned so as to mask a periphery of an aperture in the table top, and having an aperture therein sized and dimensioned to accommodate a card of a deck of cards disposed parallel to the plate; and

,

a shuffler support,

wherein a largest peripheral dimension of the aperture in the table top is smaller than a largest corresponding peripheral dimension of the card shuffler in a plane parallel to the table top.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the shuffler support hangs the shuffler from the plate.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plate is adapted to be captivated to the table top.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the shuffler support is adapted to maintain an upper portion of the shuffler in contact with a lower surface of the plate.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the shuffler support further comprises:

a linear support, positionable to oppose a lower surface of the shuffler;

a pair of turnbuckles; and

,

a pair of brackets,

wherein a first end of each turnbuckle of the pair of turnbuckles is attached to one end portion of the liner support, and a second end of each turnbuckle is adapted to engage with a bracket of the pair of brackets.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the brackets are picture hanging loops.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the linear support is one of a bar, angle iron, or plate.

26. A table, comprising:

a table top having an aperture formed therein; and

,

a card shuffler assembly, further comprising;

a card shuffler having an aperture in a top thereof capable of accepting a deck of cards;

a plate sized and dimensioned so as to mask a periphery of the aperture in the table top, and having an aperture sized and dimensioned to accommodate a card of the deck of cards when the card is disposed parallel to the table top; and

,

a shuffler support,

wherein a largest peripheral dimension of the aperture in the table top is smaller than a largest corresponding peripheral dimension of the card shuffler in a plane parallel to the table top.

27. The table of claim 26, wherein the shuffler support hangs the shuffler from the plate.

28. The table of claim 26, wherein the plate is captivated to the table top.

29. The table of claim 28, wherein the shuffler support maintains an upper portion of the shuffler in contact with a lower surface of the plate.

30. The table of claim 26, wherein the shuffler support comprises at least two turnbuckles attachable to an underside to the table top, and having one of a bar, angle iron or plate connected to the turnbuckles and disposable to support the shuffler so the top of the shuffler comes in contact with the underside of the plate.

31. A method of mounting a shuffler to a table top, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a table top;

cutting an aperture in the table top, sized and dimensioned to accommodate at least a portion of a bezel of a shuffler; and

,

providing a plate having outer peripheral dimensions so as to mask the aperture and an aperture in the plate sized and dimensioned to permit passing a deck of cards through the aperture.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one pair of opposing surfaces extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of the table top is beveled.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the bevel is oriented such that a periphery of the aperture at a top surface of the table top is smaller than a periphery of the aperture at a bottom surface of the table top.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the bevel angle is approximately 45 degrees.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing a card shuffler.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

supporting the card shuffler with respect to either the table top or the plate so that an aperture in the card shuffler suitable for receiving cards is captivated in a position with respect to the plate so that the aperture in the card shuffler is accessible through the aperture in the plate.

37. A mounting kit for a card shuffler, the kit comprising:

a plate for covering an aperture in a mounting surface, and having an aperture therein sized and dimensioned to permit access to a card loading compartment of a card shuffler mounted beneath the plate;

a support device adapted to captivate the card shuffler to the table top.